Vehicle seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat of fold-down type which allows simultaneous flipping over of both seat back and seat cushion to their respective positions via an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism is operatively connected between the seat back and seat cushion, so that, for instance, upon folding the seat back down to a horizontal storage position, the seat cushion is automatically flipped over upwardly to an upright use position, without contact and interference therebetween. A seat cushion lock mechanism may be provided in such interlocking element so as to permit automatic locking and unlocking of the seat cushion to and from a vehicle body by folding the seat back downwardly and upwardly. In that fold-down seat, a headrest lock mechanism may be provided such that operation of a seat back lock mechanism causes quick operation of the headrest lock mechanism to unlock the headrest prior to the seat back being folded down.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to an automotive or vehicle seat including a rear seat. In particular, the invention is directed to a fold-down vehicle seat of the type wherein its seat back and seat cushion are in an interlocked relation with each other for synchronized movement, and wherein forward folding of the seat back causes simultaneous flipping over of the seat cushion in forward direction, so that the back side of the thus-fold seat cushion may be set at a horizontal storage position where the flipped-over seat cushion has been situated.2. Description of Prior ArtWell known is a fold-down vehicle seat of this type wherein forward folding of its seat back simultaneously causes its seat cushion to fold down in the same forward direction, which is frequently used in a recreational vehicle for instance. In this particular type of seat, when a user folds down the seat back in the forward direction of vehicle, the seat cushion is automatically flipped over...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved fold-down vehicle seat with a seat cushion and seat back that can be simultaneously flipped over to their respective positions via an interlocking means. The interlocking means includes a seat cushion lock mechanism and a seat back lock mechanism that can be automatically locked and unlocked in conjunction with the flipping over of the seat cushion and seat back. The lock means is provided between the seat cushion and the vehicle body at a point below the seat cushion, and the interlocking means includes a biasing means for biasing the seat cushion to flip over to the upright storage position. This invention solves the problem of interference with a passenger's foot and ensures complete locking of the seat cushion and seat back when folded downward.

Problems solved by technology

In this conventional fold-down seat provided with the connecting rod, however, when the seat cushion and seat back are positioned at an upright storage position and at a horizontal storage position, respectively, it is necessary to lock both seat cushion and seat back to a body of vehicle by means of locking device, otherwise, the seat cushion and seat back will be wobbled and rattled due to vibration of vehicle running on a rough road, so that an unpleasant noise might be generated therefrom.

In that respect, the connecting rod projects upwardly at the lateral side of the seat cushion near to a door of the vehicle, which is undesirably in the way of a passenger who will enter the vehicle.

Further, in the case of a fold-down seat having a lock device provided in the seat cushion thereof, wherein the seat cushion can be locked to a vehicle body, it is annoyingly necessary to operate the lock device to unlock the seat cushion, prior to folding the seat back forwardly in practical use.

Also, with regard to a fold-down rear seat on which a headrest is mounted, there is the problem that, when folding its seat back forwardly, the headrest on that seat back is contacted with a seat in front thereof, as a result of which, the rear-seat seat back can not be folded down completely to a storage position on a corresponding seat cushion of the rear seat.

But, when such lock mechanism is applied to the above-described fold-down seat of the type wherein a connecting rod is provided between seat cushion and seat back for interlocked operation, it is highly possible that, upon folding the seat back forwardly, the headrest will directly contact and interfere with the seat cushion being flipped over upwardly.

Further, in some prior art seats, the headrest lock device is operated independently of the seat back lock device, and therefore, it is of a high likelihood that the seat back may be incompletely locked to the vehicle body, even though the headrest is completely locked to the seat back.

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